Welcome, new and returning members! This sticky thread has a list of the types of help Tamriel Rebuilt needs and how to go about helping us. A lot of the links are to outdated or unfinished posts; we are working on updating them, but for the time being outdated and incomplete information is better than nothing.

Tamriel Rebuilt is looking for contributions in the categories listed below. Most do not require you to go through the showcase process to contribute, and contributors are encouraged to try their hand at multiple categories. If you're new to modding, try the [OUTDATED] tutorials for help. If none of the listed activities look like something you can do, don’t worry; Tamriel Rebuilt is always looking for feedback and ideas from the general community.

Once you know what you want to do, check out the [UNFINISHED] Where to Start thread to see what we're working on right now and need help with. Also check out the second post in this sticky, where you can learn about how copyright affects you.

Asset creation is where the game assets are thought up and made. Asset creation does not require a showcase; instead, anyone can contribute. Before you start, please read the required stickies, as linked in the descriptions below. Contributors to asset creation are promoted to Developer once they have made significant and quality contributions.

Concept Artist
Concept artists make artwork to illustrate new ideas. This includes atmospheric pictures, maps, pictures of potential new plants and animals, pictures of pants, houses, wheels, you name it. If it's a new idea, particularly a new asset, concept artists draw it. To start, head over to the Concept Art forum, read the [OUTDATED] Concept Art Guidelines, and start drawing.

Modeler
Modelers make and edit models for Tamriel Rebuilt, based off of concept art. Everything you see in Morrowind, from pants to trees to houses, was made by a modeler. Modelers also prepare the model to be animated and textured. To start, head over to the Asset Development forum and read the [OUTDATED] Model Guidelines.

Animator
Animators make animations for models and fix up existing animations. They are essential for any model that moves or changes. To start, head over to the Asset Development forum and read the [OUTDATED] Model Guidelines.

Texturer
Texturers create images that are applied onto the surface of models like a skin, to give the models their final in-game appearance. Texturers are called upon to edit old textures and make new ones for new models. To start, head over to the Asset Development forum and read the [OUTDATED] Texture Guidelines.

Construction is what most people think of when they think of modding: putting things together in the construction set. This is where we make the environment and cities players actually play in. Promotion to developer requires creation and approval of a [OUTDATED] showcase.

Exteriors
Exterior modders make the outside environment that players interact with. This includes wilderness, mountains, seas, and the exterior cells of towns and cities. A showcase is required for promotion to developer status. To start, head to the Developer Showcase forum and read the [OUTDATED] Showcase Guidelines.

Interiors
Interior modders make the insides of houses, caves, and all other interior cells. A showcase is required for promotion to developer status. To start, head to the Developer Showcase forum and read the [OUTDATED] Showcase Guidelines.

Scripter
Scripters plan and write scripts for quests, activators, and anything else. Scripters do not require a showcase, but should PM seneca37 instead.

Quester
Questers implement quests in the Construction Set once the quests have been fully planned and written. A showcase is required for promotion to developer status. To start, head to the Developer Showcase forum and read the [OUTDATED] Showcase Guidelines.

Story Implementation

Story implementation includes things like writing quests, creating new lore, and writing books and dialogue. Contributors to story implementation are promoted to Developer once they have made significant and quality contributions.

Author
Authors write the in-game literature, such as books, notes, and scrolls. To start, head over to Literature, read the [OUTDATED] Guidelines, and create a thread with a short summary of a book, your reason why you think it would exist in Morrowind, and the text itself. Considering checking our list of [OUTDATED] wanted books.

Administration

Administration is a catch-all term for project organization. This includes website and forum maintenance, organizing and summarizing meetings, and quality control. Contributors to administration are promoted to Developer once they have made significant and quality contributions, with the exception of reviewers, who must submit a reviewer application.

Organizer
Organizers help keep the site and project running, up-to-date and efficient. This includes proposing updates to outdated stickies, helping us in communications with other projects and the broader community, and the other assorted administrative work that goes with any large project. A good way to start is to head over to Project Organization, look at what sort of things are being discussed there and join in the discussions.

Tester
Testers check out content, both new and old, by examining it in the Construction Set and then playing it in-game under a variety of circumstances. Testing is something everyone can do. If you notice a bug or problem, post it here.

Reviewer
Reviewers do formal reviews on showcases and claims, making sure they are up to the standards of Tamriel Rebuilt so that members can be promoted and the claims can be marked as finished respectively. To become a reviewer, you must you must [OUTDATED] submit an application.

The old sticky this one replaces can be found here. The thread for discussing this sticky can be found here._________________"The "drunks" are hopefully leading the "sober" in the right direction. They're just not heading there in a straight line...." - Kovacius

"I have nothing to declare except my genius." - Oscar Wilde, border

Last edited by Gnomey on Sun Aug 30, 2015 12:19 am; edited 1 time in total

Tamriel Rebuilt is based on source material copyrighted by Bethesda Softworks (a "derivative work"). Since Bethesda and their parent companies have not officially given us the rights to The Elder Scrolls, what we are doing is subject to the usage agreements of Morrowind's End User License Agreement. Technically, Bethesda could step in at any time and demand we stop this project or release their own version of Tamriel Rebuilt.

Similarly, all user-created assets are copyrighted by the individual modders who made them. Since you (hopefully) want to contribute to Tamriel Rebuilt we need to talk about copyright and how it affects you.

Disclaimer: Tamriel Rebuilt and its members are not qualified to give legal advice. Seek a copyright lawyer if you need actual legal advice.

As a modder, you're making assets for us, which includes things like models, textures, concepts, interior and exterior cells, and also includes lore ideas, quests, names, and dialogue.

What TR can do with your assets

When you create assets for us, you are allowing Tamriel Rebuilt to use those assets (or not) anytime, anywhere, even if you leave the project. We can also edit, modify, or remove your assets to suit our needs. TR assets may eventually be released as a Morrowind modder's resource.

What you can do with your assets

You still retain as much control over your creations as copyright allows; you're welcome to use that work elsewhere as you please, such as in another mod or your portfolio.

What Bethesda can do with your assets

Bethesda owns the Elder Scrolls, and everything to do with it. Similarly, when you agreed to Morrowind's End User License Agreement you gave Bethesda the rights to use and redistribute anything you made using the Construction Set. You might not get credit or get paid for this, nor can you say "no".

Also, during the creation of assets for TR, you might end up using stuff copyrighted by Bethesda. This includes anything lifted from the vanilla game, ranging from textures to lore. Because of this, Bethesda can claim ownership of it or at least force you to remove your creation from whatever it's being used in. In particular, if you want to use the things you made for TR in another project not related to Morrowind, make sure you remove all assets that were not completely made by you.

The thread for discussing this sticky can be found here._________________"The "drunks" are hopefully leading the "sober" in the right direction. They're just not heading there in a straight line...." - Kovacius